News in Brief 17 September 2015 (PM)

The UN Mission in Liberia, UNMIL, has been extended for another year by the UN Security Council.

The number of staff will be gradually reduced as Liberian authorities take on greater responsibility for security in the county which is slowly recovering from 14 years of war.

The mission will focus on protecting civilians, reforming judicial institutions and protecting human rights and UN personnel over the next year.

It was set up in 2003 to monitor a ceasefire accord following the resignation of former President Charles Taylor and the end of the country's second civil war.

Call for greater disclosure of hazardous wastes

People have the right to know whether they are being exposed to or harmed by hazardous waste, according to the UN expert on the human rights implications of such materials.

Special rapporteur Baskut Tuncak said there is a dearth of information about the safety of tens of thousands of chemicals on the market.

Mr Tuncak called on governments and businesses to do more to warn people about the adverse side effects like cancer and disease of hazardous substances found in food, water, products and the air we breathe.

Big screen icons and music legends to host South-South Awards event

Celebrated Hollywood actors Robert De Niro, Michael Douglas and Forest Whitaker will lend their voices to celebrate the UN's 70th anniversary and the adoption of the new sustainable development agenda.

The big-screen icons will kick off the ceremony at the 2015 South-South awards on 26 September in New York.

The annual awards honour the achievement of countries, individuals and organizations in reducing poverty, promoting education and supporting the world's most vulnerable people.